President Barack Obama slapped sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials on Monday, accusing them of perpetrating human rights violations and public corruption in the socialist-governed South American nation.

The individuals all come from the top echelon of the state security apparatus that was responsible for cracking down on anti-government protests that rocked Venezuela last year and for pursuing charges against leading opponents.

The US Congress passed legislation late last year authorizing sanctions that would freeze the assets and ban visas for anyone accused of carrying out acts of violence or violating the human rights of those opposing the Venezuela's government. The White House says the sanctions announced Monday mark Obama's implementation of that bill.

Tensions between the US and Venezuela have been on the rise. Last week, Venezuela gave the US two weeks to slash its diplomatic mission there to less than 20 percent of its current size. The US, in turn, has criticized Venezuela for its anti-American rhetoric.

Support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's socialist administration has fallen off sharply as Venezuela's economy has plunged deeper into crisis marked by widespread shortages and inflation over 60 percent. The president's approval rating in January stood at 22 percent, the lowest since the revolution started by the late President Hugo Chavez in 1999.

The sanctioned officials include former members of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Guard, known as the GNB. The White House says GNB members have engaged in "significant acts of violence or conduct that constitutes a serious abuse or violation of human rights."

"In various cities in Venezuela, members of the GNB used force against peaceful protestors and journalists, including severe physical violence, sexual assault, and firearms," the White House said in a fact sheet on the sanctions.

The seven sanctioned officials are:

* Antonio Jose Benavides Torres, commander in Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Forces and former GNB operations director

* Gustavo Enrique Gonzalez Lopez, director general of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Intelligence Service. The US says he is responsible for or complicit in acts of violence and other human rights abuses against anti-government protestors. He was also associated with the surveillance of Venezuelan opposition leaders.

* Justo Jose Noguera Pietri, president of the Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana a state-owned entity, and former GNB general commander.

* Katherine Nayarith Haringhton Padron: national level prosecutor of who has charged several opposition members with conspiracy related to alleged assassination and coup attempts using what the US says were "implausible - and in some cases fabricated - information."

* Manuel Eduardo Perez Urdaneta, director of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Police. The US says the policy force has engaged in "significant acts of violence or conduct that constitutes a serious abuse or violation of human rights."

* Manuel Gregorio Bernal Martinez : chief of the 31st Armored Brigade of Caracas of Venezuela's Bolivarian Army and former director general of national intelligence services. He was intelligence chief on February 12, 2014, when officials fired their weapons on protestors killing two individuals near the Attorney General's Office.

* Miguel Alcides Vivas Landino, inspector general of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Forces.

Source: TOI